Integrated testing begins on RTD’s West Rail Line

A light rail vehicle is pulled over the steel-arched Sixth Avenue Bridge in a clearance test.RTD flickr

In Denver, Colo., the Regional Transportation District (RTD) will start the integrated testing phase for the West Rail Line beginning Thursday, Jan. 3.

An initial train will run the entire length of the West Rail Line as the first test.

"This is a huge milestone for RTD as the test train will be operating under its own power, the first for the West Rail Line. Testing will continue for the next few months, leading to the opening of the rail line on April 26," said West Rail Line Project Manager Jim Starling.

The train will travel east to west, ending at Johnson Road in Golden. The initial "sweep" of the entire corridor will start Thursday. Following the sweep, the train will return to Zuni Street to begin grade-crossing testing. The testing, which will take several weeks to complete, ensures that all systems are integrated and operating safely and correctly.

The 12.1-mile West Rail Line is the first rail line of RTD's FasTracks project to start construction and will be the first to open to the public on April 26, 2013, eight months ahead of the original schedule. The West Rail Line will operate between Denver Union Station in downtown Denver and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden, serving Denver, Lakewood, the Denver Federal Center, Golden and Jefferson County.